Emoticon
An emoticon is a sequence of keyboard characters or punctuation marks used in digital communication to represent a facial expression or emotion.
An emoticon is a sequence of keyboard characters used to represent a facial expression. Common in digital communication, they help convey tone and intent.
What it is
An emoticon is a textual representation of a facial expression, formed from punctuation marks and letters. It is used to communicate emotion or clarify tone in digital writing, such as email, text messages, and online chat.
Why it matters
Emoticons help avoid misunderstandings in plain text by showing mood, humour, or sarcasm. They are widely used in informal digital communication across platforms like email, messaging apps, and social media, making online interactions feel more personal.
Key details
The term blends “emotion” and “icon.” Emoticons became popular in the early 1980s with the sideways smiley :-). They are distinct from emojis, which are pictographic images rather than text characters. Today, emojis have largely supplemented emoticons in many contexts.
In short
- Emoticons are text-based symbols from keyboard characters.
- They express mood or attitude in plain text.
- The classic emoticon is the sideways smiley :-).
- Emoticons differ from emojis, which are pictographic.
Emoticons are part of everyday digital communication for Canadian internet users, especially in texting, email, and social media.
Quick questions
What is an emoticon?
What does the word emoticon mean?
How is an emoticon different from an emoji?
Sources
- Cambridge English Dictionary — https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/emoticonSupports: Defines emoticon as an image made from symbols such as punctuation marks used to express emotion.
- Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/emoticonSupports: Defines emoticon, explains the emotion+icon etymology, and notes early documented use in 1982.
- Merriam-Webster — https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/emoticonsSupports: Defines emoticons as keyboard characters representing facial expressions or attitudes in computerized communications.
- Dictionary.com — https://www.dictionary.com/compare-words/emoticon-vs-emojiSupports: Explains the distinction between emoticons and emojis and gives examples of emoticon forms.